Display rack for floor covering materials



June 18, 1963 M. H. GORDON 3,094,216

DISPLAY RACK FOR FLOOR COVERING MATERIALS Filed April 26. 1961 j INVENTOR. MARSHALL H 60/700 United States Patent 3,094,216 DISPLAY RACK FOR FLOOR COVERING MATERIALS Marshall H. Gordon, 634 Winston Drive, Melrose Park, Ill. Filed Apr. 26 1961, Ser. No. 105,632 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-45) This invention relates generally to improvements in rack structures and, more particularly, relates to a novel rack for displaying samples of floor covering materials such as linoleum or the like.

Although not necessarily limited thereto, the display rack embodying the invention is especially useful in re tail business establishments, 'for instance, for displaying samples of floor covering materials to which customers can refer for making their selections. As a result of the large number of patterns, styles and makes of linoleum, for instance, which a retail establishment ordinarily sells, including the different color and color combinations in the same pattern or style of linoleum, the problem of advantageously displaying all samples involved is considerably complicated. There not only is the problem of displaying the samples to their best advantage and with convenient access thereto by the customer, but also that of utilizing a small amount of space in doing it so that valuable floor area of the business establishment will not be wasted or lost. It further is desirable to display a suitably large sample of the merchandise so that the customer can make his selection more reliably and satisfactorily, however, without sacrificing convenience of access to the various samples and loss of valuable floor area.

Accordingly, it is a major object of the invention to provide a display rack of the character described which is characterized by a construction permitting the foregoing and other advantages to be realized.

An important object of the invention is to provide a display rack for floor covering materials which includes an upright frame or stand for the samples, said samples being suspended on said frame in individual groups and said groups being individually movable from their suspended position to a second position supported in a downwardly slanted disposition overlying other groups remain ing in suspended position on the frame.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display rack of the character described which is comprised of a pair of substantially identical parallel side members vertically arranged and spaced apart, said side members having formations along the upper ends thereof for removably securing a plurality of elongated rods spaced apart thereon with each rod having a plurality of sample materials suspended therefrom intermediate the side members and said rods being supported on the side members in a plane slanted or angled relative to said side members, said finame having hook members spaced above said side members and adapted to support a rod therein with the samples thereof supported overlying other of said rods disposed in said slanted plane.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rack of the character described which comprises a vertically arranged stand open at the upper end thereof, said up per end being angled downwardly from the rear to the 3,094,216 Patented June 18, 1963 front of the stand and having means for removably securing a plurality of rods thereon spaced apart one from the other with said rods each having sample materials suspended therefrom into the interior of the stand through said open end, and means for supporting a rod spaced above said upper end with the sample materials thereon supported on the rods secured on said upper end.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a highly economical and efficient rack structure of the character described which is portable; which is sturdy; which per mits each sample of a group to be examined conveniently and easily; which occupies a relatively small amount of floor area notwithstanding the large number of samples which it is capable of supporting; and which permits samples of desirably large size to be displayed thereon without sacrificing any of the advantages heretofore mentioned to any material extent.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing disclosure in which a preferred embodiment has been described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing. It is contemplated that minor variations in the size, arrangement, construction and proportion of the several parts thereof may occur to the skilled artisan without departing from the scope or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the display rack embodying the invention and showing individual groups of samples of a floor covering material suspended thereon.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view, of the said rack and showing one group of samples supported in an angled position overlying other of such groups in a position permitting examination of the samples by a customer, said rack being slightly modified in structure.

Referring now to the drawing, the display rack embodying the invention is designated generally by the reference character 20. The rack 20 includes an upright framework or stand 22 upon which are adapted to be supported individual groups 24 of samples of floor covering materials, such as linoleum, carpeting and the like. Each group 24 of samples is suspended from an elongated rod 26 supported on the stand 22 and capable of being stored in an out-of-the-way position on the interior of the framework 22 when not being examined, as seen in FIG. 1. When it is desired to refer to a particular group 24 of samples, the rod 26 from which said group 24 is suspended is removable from the stand and secura'ble in a second position on the stand with the samples of material thereon supported in a downwardly slanted position overlying the groups 24 of samples remaining on the interior of the framework, as seen in FIG. 2.

The stand or framework 22 is comprised of a pair of similar, vertically arranged side members preferably formed of hollow, metal tubing readily bent to shape by means of conventional metal bending equipment. Each side member has an inverted, substantially U-shaped configuration formed from a single length of metal tubing to provide a front leg 28 and rear leg 30. The legs 28 and 30 are joined across the upper ends thereof by a connecting member or web 32. The leg 30 of each side member is longer than the leg 28 to which it is connected so that the connecting member 32 of each side 3 member is angled or slanted downwardly from rear leg 30 toward front leg 28. Each leg 28 and 30 may have a foot member 33 on the bottom extremity thereof for obvious advantage.

The side members are spaced apart parallel one with the other with the respective front legs 28 braced by the cross-member 34 connected between the upper ends thereof. The rear legs 30 likewise are braced by the cross-member 36. The lower end of the stand 22 is rigidified by means of the brace 38 which comprises an open, substantially rectangular member connected at the respective corners thereof by means of the metal screws 40 to the front and rear legs of the stand. The brace 38 is disposed inwardly of the legs 28 and 30. Thus, the framework 22 may be seen to have an open upper end 41 provided by the connecting members 32 which is canted or angled downwardly from the rear legs 30 toward the front legs 28 of the stand.

Each of the connecting members 32 has a plurality of upstanding abutments or pins 42 arranged spaced apart in a row along a substantial portion of the length of the member 32. Each pin 42 of one connecting member 32 is aligned with a pin 42 of the opposite connecting member 32 and it may be noted that the spacing between adjacent pins of each connecting member 32 preferably is substantially the same.

Each rod 26 may be formed of metal similar to that from which framework 22 is formed or other suitable material such as a wooden dowel or the like. The length of each rod 26 is greater than the distance between the side members of the framework 22 and preferably, the increment of greater dimension is substantial so as to provide protruding end portions 27 of the rod 26 for hand grip means. Each rod 26 has a pair of eyelets 44 spaced apart intermediate the ends of the rod and a split ring 46 is engaged in each eyelet 44. The group 24 of samples is supported on the rod by said rings engaged through suitable openings in the samples adjacent an end thereof respectively.

Each group 24 of samples is comprised of a plurality of rectangular sheets 48 which progressively are slightly smaller in one dimension, preferably the length thereof, so that an edge 50 of each sheet can be seen to indicate the general color and pattern of the sample. As seen in FIG. 1, the groups 24 of samples are relatively large and are suspended by means of the rings 46 from the rods 26. The rods are supported spaced apart on the connecting members 32 by means of aligned pins 42 on the respective members 32 with end portions 27 protruding outward of the respective members 32. The groups 24 hang down between the side members of the framework through open end 41 and hence, a stored position confined entirely within the framework. The plurality of rods 26 supported on members 32 can be seen to be arranged spaced apart in a downwardly slanted or angled condition from the rear toward the front legs of the framework.

Supported on the cross member 36 is a pair of spaced apart, vertically arranged, parallel standards 52 each having a hook member 54 secured on the face 56 of the standard facing toward the front legs 28. The standards are spaced apart a distance less than the length of a rod 26. The hooks 54 are aligned in a generally horizontal plane spaced above the rear legs 30 or upper end 41 of the framework 22. The standards 52 may serve as a frame for mounting a sign or placard 58.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the prospective purchaser wishes to examine a particular group of samples represented by reference character 24A, he grasps the protruding end portions of rod 26A to which said samples are secured and lifts the entire rod and moves it to the standards 52. He deposits the rod 26A in the hooks 54 with said end portions thereof cradled in the bight thereof and lays the samples 24A on the rods 26 still supported on the connecting members 32. Thus, the group 24A overlays the other rods 26 still on the stand 22 with edge portions 50A exposed. The purchaser can leaf through the sheets 48A rapidly and conveniently since the group 24A is supported at the back or rear thereof on the rods 26. As seen in FIG. 2, the group 24A of samples is downwardly slanted or angled following the canted support surface provided by the rods 26 remaining on the framework. The purchaser can return the group 24A to the framework 24 by lifting rod 26A from its cradle on' the hooks 54 and depositing same on the members 32 engaged with a pair of aligned pins 42.

It may be noted from FIG. 2 that instead of upright pins 42, hook formations 60 may be employed on members 32 for retaining the rods 26 properly positioned on the said members 32. Also, the extremities of the rods 26 may be capped as seen at 62.

It is believed that the invention has been described in sufficient detail to enable the skilled artisan to understand and practice the same. The claims hereto appended are desired to be broadly construed commensurate with the contribution made by the invention to the arts and sciences.

What it is desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A display rack for groups of samples of floor covering materials and the like comprising, an upright frame of generally rectangular cross-section open at the upper end thereof, said frame having means at said upper end for removably supporting a plurality of elongated rods spaced apart one relative to other transversely across said open end with each rod having a group of said samples suspended therefrom through said open end into the interior of the frame and said rods disposed in a common plane angled downwardly from the rear toward the front of the frame, and hook means spaced above the said common plane at the rear of the frame for supporting a single rod with the group of samples thereof engaged upon the rods supported across said open end, said rods having opposite end portions protruding outwardly of the opposite sides of the frame.

2. A display rack for samples of floor covering materials and the like comprising, a vertically arranged stand having a pair of similar side members and open at the upper end thereof, said side members each comprising, a length of metal tubing of inverted substantially U- shaped configuration providing a front leg, a rear leg and a connection member between the upper ends of said leg members, said front leg being shorter than the rear leg whereby said connecting member is angled downwardly from the rear toward the front of the stand, a plurality of elongated members each adapted to have floor covering samples secured thereto, upstanding formations spaced along each of said connecting members with each formation of one connecting member aligned with a formation of the other connecting member, said rods removably supported on said connecting members engaged with pairs of aligned formations and transversely across said upper end with the samples extending through said open end into the stand, and means for supporting one of said rods at the rear of the stand and spaced above the upper end with the samples thereof supported on the rods secured on said connecting members said means comprising a pair of vertical standard members secured at the rear of said stand, at least a pair of hook members, each carried by a vertical standard member at a position equally spaced from the open end of said stand, said hook members facing the front of said stand, said book members adapted to receive the ends of a selected one of said sample-carrying rod members whereby same is supported above the inclined plane of the said connecting members with the other sample carrying rod members secured in said aligned formations whereby to support the samples carried by said selected one rod member atop the said remaining sample-carrying rod members along said inclined plane.

3. A combined storage and display for flat samples comprising, a support structure forming a rectangular standard, said standard having a top edge formation slanted forwardly and downwardly, a plurality of rods, each adapted to have at least one sample depending therefrom into said structure and the top edge format-ion having a plurality of spaced stop means removably engaged by said rods, the rear of said formation having means for supporting a rod spaced above said formation with References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 384,726 Smith June 19, 1888 674,069 Sni vely May 14, 1901 1,994,981 000k Mar. 19, 1935 2,839,200 Easterwood June 17, 1958 

1. A DISPLAY RACK FOR GROUPS OF SAMPLES OF FLOOR COVERING MATERIALS AND THE LIKE COMPRISING, AN UPRIGHT FRAME OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CROSS-SECTION OPEN AT THE UPPER END THEREOF, SAID FRAME HAVING MEANS AT SAID UPPER END FOR REMOVABLY SUPORTING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATED RODS SPACED APART ONE RELATIVE TO OTHER TRANSVERSELY ACROSS SAID OPEN END WITH EACH ROD HAVING A GROUP OF SAID SAMPLES SUSPENDED THEREFROM THROUGH SAID OPEN END INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE FRAME AND SAID RODS DISPOSED IN A COMMON PLANE ANGLED DOWNWARDLY FROM THE REAR TOWARD THE FRONT OF THE FRAME, AND HOOK MEANS SPACED ABOVE THE SAID COMMON PLANE AT THE REAR OF THE FRAME FOR SUPPORTING A SINGLE ROD WITH THE GROUP OF SAMPLES THEREOF ENGAGED UPON THE RODS SUPPORTED ACROSS SAID OPEN END, SAID RODS HAVING OPPOSITE END PORTIONS PORTRUDING OUTWARDLY OF THE OPPOSTIE SIDES OF THE FRAME. 